Tue | Feb 17, 2026

Man in Barbados pleads guilty to posting fake social media bribery claim about candidate

Published:Wednesday | February 11, 2026 | 9:31 AM
The court heard that Durant had posted a video on social media falsely claiming that the candidate had sent him cash in an election envelope. He later claimed the post was a joke.
The court heard that Durant had posted a video on social media falsely claiming that the candidate had sent him cash in an election envelope. He later claimed the post was a joke.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC - A 27-year-old man in Barbados has been released on BDS$5,000 bail after he pleaded guilty to posting on social media a video claiming that he had received money from a candidate of the ruling Barbados Labour Party (BLP) ahead of Wednesday’s general election.

Akeem Renaldo Durant will return to the Oistins Magistrates’ Court on Monday for sentencing by Chief Magistrate Deidre McKenna.

The court heard that Durant had posted a video on social media falsely claiming that the BLP candidate Wilfred Abrahams had sent him cash in an election envelope.

He later claimed the post was a joke.

But the police charged him with malicious communication under the Computer Misuse Act.

In the video posted on Monday, Durant is seen opening an election circular purportedly from the candidate containing hundred and fifty-dollar bills, claiming that the money came in the same envelope from Abrahams.

He later posted another video retracting the allegation and apologised.

Abrahams later told the online publication, Barbados TODAY, that he was hurt by the post, and that the video not only threatened his reputation but that of his party colleagues who helped prepare the campaign material.

“The bottom line is, this is not just Wilfred Abrahams, this is impugning the integrity of the volunteers who helped stuff the envelopes… I didn’t have anything to do with the circular. It impugned the integrity of the BLP campaign, it impugned the integrity of our electoral system,” said Abrahams, an attorney, who served as home affairs minister in the outgoing government.

Under section 14 of the Computer Misuse Act, sending an electronic message or other communication that is either indecent, obscene, contains a threat, or is menacing in character is considered malicious communication.

The message must not merely be false but could be intended to “cause or being reckless as to whether they cause annoyance, inconvenience, distress or anxiety to the recipient or another person”.

The offence carries a fine of up to BDS$50 000, or up to five years’ imprisonment, or both.

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